Hamamtsucho station guide. How to transfer JR, Tokyo Monorail and Subway lines

Hamamatsucho is one of the stations on Yamanote line in downtown Tokyo. This station is not a mega station, such as Tokyo, Shinjuku. But this station is the hub of local transportation in downtown Tokyo. JR Yamanote line and JR Keihin Tohoku line connects many places in downtown Tokyo. Tokyo Monorail connects Haneda airport and Hamamatsucho.

And there is subway Daimon station. This stations is different name from Hamamatsucho station. But actually these stations are located in same place. You can catch Toei subway Asakusa line and Oedo line at Daimon station.

I believe many of travelers who visit Tokyo may use this station. I would like to tell you about these stations in this post.

JR and Monorail Hamamatsucho station overview

Stairs to South and Central gates

Hamamatsucho station is located on Yamanote line between Tokyo and Shinagawa. Only trains of Yamanote line and Keihin Tohoku line depart and arrive at Hamamatsucho station. Yamanote line is loop line. You can access to most part of Tokyo, such as Shinjuku, Ikebukuro, Shibuya, Tokyo, Ueno, Akihabara and Shinagawa. Keihin Tohoku line runs between Omiya and Yokohama. It runs through eastern part of Tokyo, such as Ueno, Akihabara, Tokyo, Shinagawa.

Hamamatsucho station is the terminal station of Tokyo Monorail too. It connects Hamamatsucho and Haneda airport. If you arrive and/or depart at Heneda airport, you may take this monorail trains.

Hamamatsucho station is four levels structure on the ground. JR trains, Keihin Tohoku line and Yamanote line platforms are located on the second floor. Tokyo Monorail platforms are located on fourth floor. These platforms are connected walkway on third floor.

You can go up and down to transfer among these station by stairs, escalators and elevators.

Platforms (JR)

Track#

Lines/Trains

Destination

1

Keihin Tohoku line

Tokyo, Ueno, Omiya

2

Yamanote line

Tokyo, Ueno, Ikebukuro

3

Yamanote line

Shinagawa, Shibuya, Shinjuku

4

Keihin Tohoku line

Shinagawa, Yokohama, Kannai, Ofuna

JR Hamamatsucho station has only two platforms and very simple layout. You cannot miss the direction.

Platforms (Tokyo Monorail)

Track

Destination

Arrival

alighting only

Depature

Tennozu Isle, Haneda Airport

Monorail departure platform

Tokyo Monorail Hamamatsucho station has only one track. The platforms are both side of track. One platform is for arrival and the other is for departure. This is very simple too.

Ticket gate/Exit

South gate

JR and Monorail Hamamatsucho stations have three ticket gate, north, central and south.

This map shows location of gates

Central and south gates are located on the bridge at third floor. Central gate is basically transfer gate to Tokyo Monorail. If you transfer from JR trains to Monorail, you can go through Central gate to change the trains. You do not need to go up and down. You can move at same level.

Walkway to transfer gate to MonorailMonorail Central gate

But if you transfer from Monorail to JR trains, you have to go down and up after exit Monorail station to enter JR station at South gate. Please see the movie below about transfer from Monorail to JR trains.

Tip for traveler who wants to go to Asakusa from Haneda

When you go to Asakusa from Haneda (or reverse), you can catch Tokyo Monorail from Haneda to Hamamatsucho and take subway Asakusa line from Hamaatsucho to Asakusa. Especially if you will use JR Pass, JR East Pass or Tokyo Wide Pass, you can take Tokyo Monorail by these passes. You can save your cost for Haneda to Hamaamtsucho.

However if you want to take more convenient and easier way, you can catch Keihin Kyuko railway train from Haneda. Many Keihin Kyuko trains run through subway Asakusa line. You can get Asakusa from Haneda directly. Even though this route is not covered by JR Pass, JR East Pass or Tokyo Wide Pass at all, Keihin Kyuko and subway route is the easiest way for getting Asakusa from Haneda

Station structure, tracks and platforms

Unfortunately only Japanese station map is available. I put the link below.

It looks very complicated. But each lines have two tracks. Asakusa line depart and arrive at track #1 and #2 on basement first floor. Oedo line depart at track #3 and #4 on basement 5th floor. Oedo line is much newer line and runs in very deep underground. There was no space in shallow underground.

Ticket gate and exit

B2 entrance is located just in front of JR Hamamtsucho station North gate.

There are many exits in this station. All exits have number, such as A1, B1. B2 is the nearest exit to Hamamatsucho station.

Both Asakusa line and Oedo line have ticket gates. But both platforms are connected inside ticket gate. If you enter at the wrong line, you still can proceed to the platform where you want to take subway train. There are many signage in the station. Just follow the signage and you can find the location.

Hi, I wat to go from Hamamtsucho to Narita Airport. Therefore I have to change the train at Tokyo Station. From Tokyo Station I want to go wtih the Narita Express. Do I have to buy at the Ticket Office at Hamamtsucho Station 2 tickets: 1 ticket for Narita Express and 1 ticket to go from Hamamtsucho to Tokyo Station? The Narita Express has to be reserved? The train from Hamamtsucho to Tokyo Station needs no reservation? I am for the first time at Tokyo Station. How much time does a foreigner need to change the platform? 15 Minutes? Regards Ralf

You will have two tickets, base fare ticket from Hamamatsucho to Narita airport and Narita Express seat ticket. You will take a local train from Hamamatsucho to Tokyo and no need reservation for this segment. You have to reserve your seat on Narita Express.

Excellent web site. Thank you for the great information. Coming from United States. Do we still need to buy our certificate before we get to Japan or can we get the tourist pass after we arrive in Tokyo?

What does “certificate” mean? As long as you enter Japan as short term visitor, you can purchase most of passes. If you need more info, please let me know what certificate is and which pass you intend to buy.

Instead of certificate I should have said “exchange order. One web site said I cannot buy a Japan Rail Pass in Japan. I must buy it before I leave home and I will be mailed an exchange voucher. The following is from a web site from a Japan Rail Pass “Official Vendor.” “Order your JR Pass online. You will receive an Exchange Order (delivery in Japan available), which then needs to be exchanged and activated in Japan for the actual JR Pass. All foreign nationals who visit Japan for tourist reasons can purchase it.”

Is that still the way to buy a Japan Rail Pass or can I wait and buy them after I arrive in your country.

Thanks Takeshi. I will order one today. Just to make sure, we plan on using the train to go from Tokyo to Fukuoka, then one or two day trips to Hiroshima, and then from Fukuoka to Osaka, and finally from Osaka back to Tokyo. It seems like the pass will cover all those destinations. Is that correct?

Hi, I am staying at Mitsui Garden hotel shiodome italia-gai, Minato Ward. I would like to go to Shin Osaka station by the shinkansen. I am using a JR PASS. Can you guide how to reach there from my hotel at Mitsui? Thanks.

Dear Helpers, this is my first time going to japan and i have JR Pass. My question is : Are hansomone line, tobu skytree line, asakusa line and rinkai line can use JR Pass or not ? . Thank you for your help.

Hi my husband and I are travelling to Japan in October. We will be staying at a hotel in Yokohama near the cruise terminal. We need to get to Hamamtsucho station to connect with a day tour to Mt Fuji. Can you tell us which train we can take to get us there. We will have a Suica card each to use while we are in Tokyo. Can we also use this card to at home the train from Narita airport to Yokohama.

I don’t know the exact location of cruise terminal. But you can get Yokohama station first by subway or other trains. And then take JR Keihin Tohoku line. You can get Hamamatsucho from Yokohama by Keihin Tohoku line directly. You can use Suica for this trip and trip from Narita to Yokohama.

Hi I am planning a family trip with 2kids age 12 and 14 to tokyu this year end . I have roughly plan what to cover and need your advice on buying the transport ticket and route to use . Upon arrival at Haneda I planned to take the airport limo to my stay at ikebukuro. Day 1 Haneda to ikebukuro , shop around nearby and Shinjuku area Day 2 Mount Fuji day tour (pick up at Keiso plaza hotel) Day 3 Disney land Day 4 Disney sea Day 5 asakusa area and ueno zoo Day 6 Tokyo tower and imperial palace Day 7 ikebukuro to Haneda by airport limo The sequence maybe will not fixed but roughly planned these areas.

Please advice should I get the 3 days of metro and subway pass or jus jus the if card . And also I saw at the airport website , getting out of Haneda airport I can use the Keikyu line, if I suppose to choose this route and how to approach on that . I have luggages with me so it’s better not to have too many transfers if possible .

i look at http://www.hyperdia.com/ and got that from SHINAGAWA to SHINJUKU(JR) i have to use JR Yamanote Line(Outer loop) , but whey it show that i go to OSAKI station even i ride the same line ffrom OSAKI to SHINJUKU(JR)?i have to Transfer train?

In most of cases, you don’t need to transfer. The reason why is cause of operation system. Yamanote line is loop line. But in train operation, Osaki is departure/arrival stations. It’s just a system. You can ignore.

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Please do not ask me to make your itinerary. Because I am not your personal travel agent. I am very happy to check your itinerary. But please try to make the plan by yourself. In this website, there are lots of resources to make your plan.

Please do not ask me about the access to your hotel. You can google your hotel and find it at hotel website or google map easily.

I cannot recommend any hotels other than which I have stayed. Basically I cannot talk about hotels in this site. The number of hotels are too many to talk about by my experience.

If you want to ask me which pass suits your plan, please tell me your detailed itinerary and location to stay. I cannot choose any deals without the detailed itinerary because I have to compare the total single fare and deals.

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About JP Rail.com

This website is unofficial website about Japan Rail Pass, other rail passes and rail travel in Japan. It explains you how to use Japan Rail Pass and assists you to use Japan Rail Pass to its maximum! And also this site explain about many more rail passes, gives you tips and supports you to enjoy rail trip in Japan.

About JP Rail.com

This website is unofficial website about Japan Rail Pass, other rail passes and rail travel in Japan. It explains you how to use Japan Rail Pass and assists you to use Japan Rail Pass to its maximum! And also this site explain about many more rail passes, gives you tips and supports you to enjoy rail trip in Japan.